A new report from the West Yorkshire Casualty Reduction Partnership has confirmed what was already known: that young drivers have a greater likelihood of being killed in fatal accidents than their older, more experienced and generally (though not always) more sensible counterparts. It is fair to assume, then, that they are also involved in more accidents in which their passengers, pedestrians or people travelling in other vehicles are killed or injured.
A few months ago we supported suggestions from Judge Jonathan Durham Hall that young drivers should be barred from driving high-powered cars until they had a chance to grow up. There is also a good case to be made for raising the minimum driving age.
None of that, however, would have much impact on two of the three main reasons the partnership has identified for the continuing toll among young drivers: drink driving, and unlicensed, unqualified driving.
Statistically, unlicensed drivers are more likely to have no insurance and to drive while under the influence of drink or drugs. These are people who are not only driving irresponsibly and dangerously but also outside the law. They are beyond the normal controls. Tell them to drive a low-powered car and they will take no notice.
Partnership chairman Steve Thornton is right to call for more police on the streets to tackle the problem. The best deterrent is an increased chance of being caught, followed by stiff sentencing. As long as illegal young drivers believe that they can get away with it, they will continue to be a danger to themselves and everyone else.
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